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K/R Shopbop items(ETA returned!) & COS tunic from alaskagirl

Edited:the small HL pants arrived yesterday and they were way smaller. So much so that the waist sat like high waisted trousers, and the calves were tight (not photo friendly;)) Seems the medium was the right fit for me. But after a long think over the weekend of my dream life vs reality vs budget, I decided to send both the small and medium back. Thanks for all of your help!

First of all, you could have picked me up off the floor this afternoon when a parcel arrived, and it was my ShopBop order that I put in YESTERDAY!!! And I'm in Canada. Wow. That's pretty close to instant gratification! From Angie's fab list of recommendations I chose the Blank vegan leather (pleather) crops and the Helmut Lang slouchy cropped pants. The pleather crops are making me very happy. Fit is good, and I wear that silhouette a lot in the warmer weather. I've been actively searching for a replacement for some old black Hudson crops that I wore into the ground, and I think these may be it. I realize pleather makes you sweat, but these would be more for evening with a loose top, more dressed up (shown in #1/2 with Pleoine sleeveless top).

Photos #3-9 show the Helmut Lang slouchy cropped pants. I followed the advice of the 1 review on the Shopbop website, and although these are fabulously slouchy, I think they might be too slouchy. I'd appreciate your thoughts. I'd prefer not to look too wide on the bottom, but I love me some slouch. The pockets are so amazingly dropped I'm in heaven. Dropped pockets get me every time. I asked DH's opinion, and he said " you know I'm not a fan of those baggy things you wear, but I can see how modern they are. I see it downtown." (DH has AMAZING style - suits every day). I know many of you are over HL and the slouchy thing. I still like both slouch and fitted, thus I like both of these crops. Since delivery was crazy-fast, I re-ordered these in a small to compare. I will either keep the better fitting pair, or return both.

Photos #10-12 show the COS citron tunic that alaskagirl so kindly sold to me instead of returning it to COS for being to large for her. It is a fabulously soft merino wool. Wow. So soft and cozy. I'm not usually big into tunic/sweater dresses, and I definately cannot pull this off as a dress. However, it feels fab with the Lysee leggings. I even tried it with the striped VC tube skirt and I think that might work too. I think I'll keep this and play with it. If it seems glaringly wrong I'd be open to selling it to another fabber as Una so kindly did for me (thanks Una!!!). Styling suggestions welcome.

Comments, critiques? Bring it on! I should mention that I have also ordered some Steve Madden Shallow black shooties. My original order was too small, so hopefully the next pair works. They seem like the perfect shootie for spring to pair with both pairs of these pants. I can't seem to Collect it for my finds. but here's a link, hopefully...http://www.stevemadden.com/pro.....ffiliate-_

Thanks in advance for your opinions

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Love the little crops! I'm eyeing those too, but have no idea what size to order. I like the slouchy pants but will reserve judgement until you get the smaller pair; my initial hunch is that they're a touch too slouchy, definitely a hectically oversized item. The smaller size should also hit up a bit higher on your leg which would be a selling point for me. Tunic looks super! Try it with the pleather crops for me

Thanks Aida. Good point on the crops hitting higher in a smaller size. Right now they are pretty much at my hipbone, which also, I think, makes the pleats swing a bit out towards the side. Yes, hectically oversized is right. I just need to make the call on how hectic I want to be. I was thinking the same thing about the crops with the tunic - fantastic idea. Unfortunately I had to feed my kids so the try-on party had to end LOL.

I'm curious to see the HL pants in the small. I can't tell if these are too slouchy or not. The pleather crops are great and I love the citron top. I like both the ways you've styled it. The Steve Madden shooties look fun. I have a similar pair that I bought last fall and loved. It's been too cold for open toes but I'm looking forward to spring when I can wear them again. I think they will be too hot in the middle of summer though.

Long shorts and crossover blouses are my summer uniform! You look splendid in the vegan shorts, and I love the HL ones too. But they do hang low on your hip, so let's see the smaller size. Tunic looks great with jeans!

Wonderful items, wow! You made perfect selections here. I love the vegan crops on you. And I think I am going to love the other pants, too; I suspect the size down will be perfect. Love Una's tunic on you also!

I think a smaller size in the HL pants is going to look better. These do seem slouchier than ideal. They are going to be awesome on you, though, style-wise. I love the crops and the citron tunic. The tunic is fantastic with both the leggings and the jeans. Those shooties are a great pick for you, too. What fun!

I made a Shopbop order yesterday too it's not yet here. Let's hear it for Service and Taking Care of International Customers!

Thumbs way up for the Blank Denim crops.

Agree the HL pants need to be a size smaller. DH might like them that way too. I think our SOs can't wait for this oversized thing to be over.

As for the tunic, I love it with the leggings. It's cute with the jeans too. My advice is to wear a pendant to break up the expanse of fabric. Either a chunky pendant or one of those more delicate layered ones that are popular now.

You could try a scarf too, or a sharp cross body bag. All of these would take the tunic out of lemon-lime popsicle territory. (I'm trying to be funny not critical, but it's so hard for me to be funny.)

A bit late here... I think you're sold on the shorts, so I'll just offer my 2c on the slouchy pants. I absolutely love the style, would totally wear it, but my experience with those shapes is that unless you have options on a belt they need to fit perfectly through the waist and hips.

These look like they might be riding a little low, but only you can tell if they're sitting comfortably or floating about a bit. I'd say keep, but only if you're certain about that fit.

I love the crops, they are really great. I think it's worth trying the smaller size in the HL crops. I like the shape on you, but the smaller size might snug on your hips better and raise them a fraction.

Love the crops. Looking forward to seeing the smaller size of the slouchies. Shooties are wonderful. And Tunic is elegant with leggings. Well done. All of these are pieces feel modern and are very different from each other so I like how they create some very different silhouettes.

Una, really it doesn't look better on me. I wish I had your shoulders to make it look right. I'm going to run with it, though because the comfort won me over.

Denise - yes! Great advice on the tunic. Not critical at all I don't want to look like a popsicle, lol :). I see my second order hasn't shipped yet so perhaps I'm in for a wait for the small.....I might send the medium back just to see my refund quicker on my visa.....

I just want to chime in and say that I smiled with TOTAL ENVY at your aside that "DH has amazing style." My DH has amazing a lot of stuff -- creativity, guitar skill, sailing expertise, ability to talk to 10-year-old boys, comfort in front of any crowd -- but style? NO. Decidedly not. I still cringe with what he puts together when I don't have a hand in it. I love my man, but count your blessings, girl!

Love those cropped vegan pants on you, and the tunic is fantastic. I can easily picture it with a tube skirt and also with the vegan crops. Like everyone, I am interested in seeing the very cool HLs one size down.

I love the HL pants - and the tunic too. That colour looks great on you Question about ordering from Shopbop: one day ?? what?? you are paying in US funds, right? what about delivery and duties - was it pretty bad?

I have to admit I'm not a fan of the leather crops - it's the length I don't understand, but I know it's just me. Anyways......interested in this ShopBop ordering.

Lisa - yes it was pretty painful. However, once you convert, pay stupid tax/duty (I'm too short of time these days to drive to the border - that would have been cheaper), then you automatically get 1-3 day guaranteed shipping. Go figure. I was floored. When I order thru Cdn companies it ALWAYS takes over a week. So bottom line, expensive, yes. I took it as my little treat. I've been in a little bit of the dumps for awhile so made it my little treat (that's how I rationalized it). I hear you on the crops. I find that length feels flattering and works well for me, especially for volume over lean in the summer. I hear you though.

Viva - funny - The grass is always greener, right? DH can't understand arty or musical or creative. Not in his DNA. I can't EVER shop for DH. He returns anything I buy. He sticks to high end, quality, but fewer pieces. I could learn a lot from him.

Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes! Love all four pieces for you. With all the
others that a smaller size in the HL pants will probably be better, so
look forward to seeing those soon.

You totally scored on the citron
tunic, and I like how you have styled it. Also looking forward to
seeing it with the pleather crops. And speaking of those - how was the
sizing? Did you order your "Normal" size? I guess with free shipping
and returns, one can experiment. I keep forgetting about shopbop - I
have ordered from them in the past.

Here's a find for the Steve Madden shoes for you. I'm also considering them... just not convinced there's a hole for them to fill!

Thanks Elizabeth. I admit I probably shouldn't have swooned over the crops right away - now I'm second guessing their length....? I fell in love so fast.... I got my regular jean size, which is 27. Sometimes I'm a 28 depending on cut so was very very worried about these. I think pleather needs to fit snug though, and these seem comfy.

Thanks for finding the Find on the shoes! I'm getting them thru Shoeme. They mucked up an order for me after the new year, so sent me a 30% off discount code....of course I had to find something to use it on....FYI they fit small! I'm usually a reliable 7.5 and I couldn't even fasten these closed. We'll see how the 8 works. Not sure if I'll like my funny long toes poking out.....

I really like the length on you. I have some denim crops that length, and whenever I look at the photos of them, I wonder why I don't wear them more.

OK, confession time - I just ordered these ones :). One pair left in my size, so couldn't waffle. I went with my "normal" skinny size. And ... the are free!!! turned out I had a credit at shopbop for $270 that I had NO idea about! It was from a return, at least a year ago. Guess I never noticed it hadn't gone back on my credit card!!!

Now to hope they arrive (and fit!) before we head off on March break. I think they'll be just the thing

UmmLila - the block heeled sandals went back too! Couldn't get the sizing right. 7.5 was way too small and 8 was way too big. I don't think the 7.5 was a true 7.5, it felt like a 7. I read on other websites that these don't come in half sizes so I have a feeling the "7.5" was really a 7.

The citron tunic looks fab on you, and the tops in # 3 -8 also look great on you! I'd try the tunic with the pleather crops. Shiny pants tend to make anything look larger... and the tunic would be super cute proportion on your lean frame. I like #6-8, the slouches, with the more delicate sandal. With the bulky leathery-leather in 4-5, it feels like competition to the pants.